ObjectiveTo explore the effect of elbow-wrist functional orthosis on plantar pressure distribution and balance function in stroke patients with hemiplegia. MethodsFrom June, 2024 to April, 2025, 60 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were recruited from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Hebin Rehabilitation Hospital. They were randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and intervention group (n = 30). The control group received routine neurological rehabilitation, while the intervention group received additional training with an elbow-wrist functional orthosis on the affected side, for eight weeks. Before and after intervention, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) of the elbow joint, plantar pressure symmetry index (SI), plantar contact area and mean plantar pressure were recorded, and balance and mobility were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up & Go Test (TUGT) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). ResultsTwo cases dropped out in the control group. After treatment, MAS grades of the elbow joint, forefoot SI, affected side plantar pressure area, BBS scores, TUGT and 10MWT of both groups improved (|Z| > 3.969, |t| > 3.528, P < 0.01), while the hindfoot SI and average pressure of the affected foot improved in the intervention group (∣t∣ > 4.264, P < 0.001). Except for TUGT and 10MWT, the intervention group was superior to the control group (∣Z∣ > 2.030, ∣t∣ > 2.096, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe elbow-wrist functional orthosis can enhance balance function in stroke patients with hemiplegia by reducing upper-limb spasticity, optimizing center-of-gravity distribution, and improving postural control.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), as a crucial component of the tumor micro-environment, have attracted significant attention in the field of tumor research in recent years. TLSs are composed of multiple immune cells and formed under the stimulation of chronic inflammation, with their maturation process divided into different stages. They exert anti-tumor effects by mimic-king the functions of secondary lymphoid organs and generating adaptive immune responses. In terms of the prognosis of gastric cancer, the cell composition, spatial distribution of TLSs, and their combination with other indicators are all helpful in predicting the prognosis of patients. Meanwhile, the TLSs scoring system is expected to become an index for evaluating the efficacy of immuno-therapy. Treatment strategies for inducing TLSs formation have achieved certain results in animal models, but potential treatment risks require attention. The authors elaborate on formation and maturation process of TLSs, anti-tumor mechanism, value in prognostic assessment of gastric cancer and multiple tumors, prediction of immunotherapy, as well as treatment strategies for inducing the formation of TLSs.

Objective:To explore the short- and medium-term clinical outcomes of covered stent implantation in the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 12 consecutive patients with TRAS (transplant renal artery stenosis) who underwent covered stent implantation in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2024. The changes in indicators such as serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), mean arterial pressure (MAP), peak systolic velocity (PSV), intrarenal resistance index (RI), and the diameter of the stenotic site were analyzed before the operation, one week after the operation, six months after the operation, and 12 months after the operation. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to investigate the changes of each observation index over time.Results:The surgery was successfully performed on all 12 patients, with a technical success rate of 100%. Among them, 8 cases used self-expanding covered stents, and 4 cases used balloon-expandable covered stents. One week, six months and twelve months after the surgery, the levels of Cr, BUN, PSV and MAP were all lower than those before the surgery. The RI and the diameter of the stenotic site were significantly increased compared with those before the surgery, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). During the perioperative period and the postoperative follow-up period, no surgery-related complications were found. Conclusion:The implantation of the covered stent can effectively relieve the stenosis of the transplant renal artery, significantly improve renal function, and reduce blood pressure levels in TRAS patients, while maintaining excellent short-to medium-term clinical outcomes.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of hip hemiarthroplasty via the fracture line approach versus modified Harding approach in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 79 elderly patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures who were admitted to Zhengzhou Orthopaedic Hospital between July 2018 and February 2024, including 17 males and 62 females, aged 80-96 years [(84.0±9.6)years]. According to the AO classification, the fractures were classified as type A2 in 61 patients and type A3 in 18. All the patients underwent hip hemiarthroplasty, 33 of whom were treated via the fracture line approach (fracture line approach group) and 46 via the modified Harding approach (modified Harding approach group). The incision length, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion volume, and weight-bearing time were documented. At 1 month, 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, hip function and pain were assessed using the Harris hip score and visual analogue scale (VAS). Postoperative dislocation rate, fracture nonunion rate, incidence of other complications (vascular injury, neurologic impairment, prosthesis loosening, lower extremity venous thrombosis, and surgical site infection) and 12-month mortality rate were recorded.Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-36 months [(18.0±5.1)months]. The operation duration and intraoperative blood loss were (68.2±8.4)minutes and (286.6±63.7)ml in the fracture line approach group, which were significantly shorter or less than (72.4±6.7)minutes and (321.3±76.2)ml in the modified Harding approach group ( P<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the incision length, blood transfusion volume or weight-bearing time between the two groups ( P>0.05). Harris hip scores and VAS scores at 1 month, 3 months, and at the last follow-up showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The dislocation rate was 0 in the fracture line approach group, superior to 13% in the modified Harding approach group ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the fracture nonunion rate, incidence of other complications, or 12-month mortality rate between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the modified Harding approach, hip hemiarthroplasty via the fracture line approach in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly can shorten the operation time, reduce intraoperative blood loss, and lower the postoperative dislocation rate.

OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhenshi Burn Ointment on postoperative wound healing of simple anal fistula and explore its potential mechanism of action.METHODS A total of 60 patients with low-position simple anal fistula of damp-heat pouring downward type admitted to the Department of Anorectum,Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nan-jing University of Chinese Medicine from May to December 2023 were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,with 30 cases in each group.After surgery,the control group was given sterilized vaseline gauze for external application,and the experimental group was given Zhenshi Burn Ointment for external application.The course of treatment for both groups was 30 d.After treatment,the postoperative wound healing time,wound healing rate,pain score,wound granulation growth and secretion,and changes in TCM syndrome score were compared between the two groups.The pathological sec-tions of wound granulation tissue were compared 14 d after surgery.The transcription levels of COL1A1,type Ⅲ collagen(COL3A1),epidermal growth factor(EGF),and fibroblast growth factor(FGF2)in granulation tissue were detected by qPCR.The expression lev-els of proteins related to MEK/ERK signaling pathway were detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the wound healing rates of the experimental group were significantly increased at 7,14,21,and 30 d after surgery(P<0.01),and the wound healing time was significantly shortened(P<0.01).At 7 d after surgery,the pain score of the experimental group was signifi-cantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).At 7 and 14 d after surgery,the granulation growth score of the wound in the ex-perimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.01).At 14 d after surgery,the secretion score of the ex-perimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.01).At 14 and 30 d after surgery,the total score of TCM syndrome in the experimental group was significantly better than that in the control group(P<0.05).At 14 d after surgery,the patho-logical improvement of granulation tissue in the wound in the experimental group was better than that in the control group,and the con-tent of collagen fiber and type I collagen(Collagen I)was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01).The mRNA contents of COL1A1,COL3A1,EGF,and FGF2 were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01);the levels of p-MEK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 proteins were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Zhenshi Burn Ointment has a good effect on promoting postoperative anal fistula wound healing,which may be related to upregulating growth factor expression,promoting collagen regeneration,and activating MEK/ERK pathway.

Peritoneal metastasis is a common form of metastasis and recurrence in advanced gastric cancer. In recent years, immunotherapy has shown promising applications in the treatment of various malignancies, including gastric cancer. Given the limited efficacy of conventional treatment modalities, such as surgery and chemotherapy, in managing gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis, immunotherapy has garnered increasing attention and recognition among researchers worldwide. However, the application of immunotherapy in gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis still faces significant challenges, including the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, drug delivery barriers, and tumor resistance. This review aims to summarize the immunological mechanisms underlying gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis and discuss the latest advances in immunotherapy from both domestic and international studies, with the goal of providing insights for the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents and the optimization of treatment strategies for patients.

Objective:To compare bowel function 12 months after surgery between side-to-end anastomosis (SEA) and end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) groups of patients who had undergone rectal cancer resection.Methods:This single-center, prospective, open-label, phase III randomized controlled trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital (2018PHB040-01) and registered at ClinicalTrials. org (NCT03669237). Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma; (2) tumor located 0 to 12 cm from the anal verge; (3) age≥18 years; and (4) planned R0 resection with primary reconstruction. Exclusion criteria included: (1) emergency surgery; (2) cognitive impairment; (3) non-primary anastomosis; (4) history of left-sided colonic or anorectal surgery; and (5) preexisting chronic defecation dysfunction. Eligible rectal cancer patients scheduled for elective sphincter-preserving surgery at Peking University People's Hospital were prospectively enrolled between October 2018 and March 2021 and randomly assigned to either the EEA group or the SEA group via computer-generated numbers prior to entering the operating room. All patients underwent standard radical tumor resection. Bowel function was evaluated by the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) questionnaire. It consists of five single-choice questions and yields a total score ranging from 0 to 42. Defecation function is categorized into three levels: no LARS (0-20 points), minor LARS (21-29 points), and major LARS (30-42 points). The primary endpoint was the LARS score 12 months after surgery. Secondary endpoints included LARS scores from 1 to 11 months and during long-term follow-up(>12 months). The final follow-up was completed in July 2022. All randomized patients were included in the intention-to-treat set (ITTS). The full analysis set (FAS) was defined as ITTS patients with valid outcome data. All primary statistical analyses were performed in the FAS, and results were further compared in the per-protocol set (PPS) based on the actual treatment received.Results:A total of 323 patients underwent eligibility assessment, of whom 71 did not meet the inclusion criteria and 52 declined to participate. Ultimately, 200 patients were randomized. Median age was 64 years and 85 were women. The SEA and EEA groups comprised 102 and 98 patients, respectively. A total of 181 patients (90.5%) were included in the FAS, and 170 (85.0%) were included in the PPS. Among these, the 12-month LARS score was evaluated in 178 patients (98.3%) in the FAS and in 167 (98.2%) in the PPS. Median LARS score at 1–12 months were significantly lower in the SEA group in both the FAS dataset [12 months:8 (interquartile range [IQR], 0–22) vs. 14 (IQR, 8–29); Z=2.687, P=0.007] and the PPS dataset [12 months: 8 (IQR, 0–22) vs. 14 (IQR, 6–29); Z=2.543, P=0.011]. During long-term follow-up, the median LARS score was also significantly lower in the SEA group in the FAS dataset [2 (IQR, 0–4) vs. 11 (IQR, 2–23); Z=2.968, P=0.003] and the PPS dataset [2 (IQR, 0–14) vs. 11 (2, 27); Z=2.687, P=0.007]. Conclusion:Compared with the EEA group, bowel function was superior in the SEA group 1 year after surgery and during long-term follow-up.

Robotic surgery, as an increasingly widespread application in the treatment of gastric and colorectal cancer, still faces obvious discrepancies in recommendations, indications, and evidence strength across existing guidelines. This study systematically analyzed 31 relevant guidelines and consensus statements (retrieved from Chinese and English databases from January 2010 to May 2025) from two dimensions: feasibility (effectiveness, safety, etc.) and training quality control.The results showed that colorectal cancer guidelines had a higher proportion (4 guidelines) of "clear recommendations" for robotic surgery, while gastric cancer guidelines predominantly presented "conditional recommendations" or no recommendations. In the training and quality control dimension, although structured suggestions received positive recommendations, more than half were based on low or very low-quality evidence. Evidence mapping indicated insufficient matching between "case-specific recommendations" and evidence grades in the feasibility dimension, while training processes emphasized the importance of standardized systems and team collaboration.The study highlights the existing heterogeneity in evidence-based guidelines for robotic gastrointestinal surgery, with colorectal cancer demonstrating a more mature evidence base and gastric cancer showing notable evidence gaps. It is recommended that future guideline development should strengthen the consistency between recommendation grades and evidence levels, promote high-quality research in upper gastrointestinal surgery, and improve surgeon training and certification systems to facilitate standardized clinical translation of robotic gastrointestinal surgery.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), as a crucial component of the tumor micro-environment, have attracted significant attention in the field of tumor research in recent years. TLSs are composed of multiple immune cells and formed under the stimulation of chronic inflammation, with their maturation process divided into different stages. They exert anti-tumor effects by mimic-king the functions of secondary lymphoid organs and generating adaptive immune responses. In terms of the prognosis of gastric cancer, the cell composition, spatial distribution of TLSs, and their combination with other indicators are all helpful in predicting the prognosis of patients. Meanwhile, the TLSs scoring system is expected to become an index for evaluating the efficacy of immuno-therapy. Treatment strategies for inducing TLSs formation have achieved certain results in animal models, but potential treatment risks require attention. The authors elaborate on formation and maturation process of TLSs, anti-tumor mechanism, value in prognostic assessment of gastric cancer and multiple tumors, prediction of immunotherapy, as well as treatment strategies for inducing the formation of TLSs.

Circadian rhythm is an essential biological process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle，hormone secretion，and metabolism，and the stability of circadian rhythm is crucial for maintaining normal cognitive function. Melatonin （MT），a key hormone secreted by the pineal gland，is involved in the regulation of circadian rhythm and thus has a significant impact on cognitive function. This article systematically reviews the multiple mechanisms by which MT regulates cognitive function through circadian rhythm，including improving sleep quality，promoting the clearance of metabolic waste by the glymphatic system，exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects，and regulating neuronal activity and the improvement of synaptic plasticity. In addition，this article also discusses the association between circadian rhythm disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Future studies are needed in the future to further clarify the neuroprotective mechanisms of MT，in order to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment.
Melatonin